Sin and misery connected

1 What wretched fools are they, who hear,
With scorn, the sound of gospel grace;
For sorrow walks along with sin,
Although they keep not equal pace.

2 How blindly sinners grasp their chain,
And yet of freedom vainly boast:
They look for happiness and peace,
Nor think by sin their peace is lost.

3 Approaching vice is decked in charms
And smiles with promises of gain:
No sooner past, its joys are fled,
And all its pleasures changed to pain.

4 Sinners may for a time rejoice,
Till storms of threatened wrath arise,
Till justice grasp the avenging sword,
And then the wretch the sinner dies.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799